Insulation - which one

[kerwinq]

I am putting in insulation in the 16 x 42 addition that I just did but am torn between the blow in and roll, am planning on doing at least R30. Lowes has R38 on clearance for $26 for a 64 sq ft roll.

What would be the best way to go?

Thanks, Kerwin

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I'm not sure what code is up there, but down here it depends on where the insulation is going. I believe it's 30 for ceilings, 13 for walls, and 19 for floors down here. I couldn't recommend blow in or rolled because I have only ever used rolled. It's pretty easy to use though.


*edit
Assuming I have your area correct, it looks like the minimum is 38 for ceilings, 19 for walls and 30 for floors. Like I said, I'm no expert, but I have done insulation a few times.

 

[sammm]

I added more roll-in to our last house...it's a job climbing over/around trusses and crawling across joists so you don't fall thru your ceiling.

Had blown-in done in the current house (mostly because it was already blown-in, just not enough). I think blown-in will give you better coverage, just be sure you keep your soffit vents vented.

 

[Scramblur]

This week I had R-34 blown in insulation added to 800sq. ft. of garage and R-19 added to 1850 sq. ft. of my house. The guys were there for about 2-2.5 hours and it cost me $1k. Questar gas here in Utah is cutting me a check back for $300. Total cost $700. I couldn't do it myself for anywhere close to these prices.

 

[ddawg16]

Are you talking wall or ceiling?

I'm going to assume ceiling....blown-in is cheaper....but settles over time and is a real PIA to work around.....

 

[stevejh82]

You'll get a better job with blown in insulation, it will seal tighter around trusses, joists, etc. You can rent a machine to blow to blow it in yourself. If my measurements are correct you are looking at around $290 dollars for the batten insulation (plus tax). To blow that in cellulose insulation you would need roughly 37 bags. If the price is close enough, I would definitely go with the cellulose (blown in) insulation.

 

[rwurbanwildlife]

blown is the only way to go with attic floors, I have customers ask for rolled all the time, not a good idea, rolled will not get all the voids like loose-fill, save yourself some time and money and get a good fiberglass blown in, two of the best are insulsafe sp & pro-pink, in GA insulsafe is a bit cheaper per foot, batt insulation is designed for vertical walls, some insulation contractors even blow vertical. I wouldn't use cellulose, its ground up newspaper, attracts insects, also after a few years the flame retardant chemicals will dissapate and the stuff burns real nice and hot.

 

[tdkkart]

If you decide to go blown-in, definitely check on having someone do it, I had a bunch done last fall, couldn't even think about doing it myself for what they charged. Also check on energy rebates, I got 70% of mine paid for.

 

[kerwinq]

It is for ceiling. Thanks for all the help, just need to see which would be the cheaper of the two

 

[PaulR]

Cellulose blown in for attics is the way to go, I've had multiple pro's tell me that recently here in the Northeast. One guy was a contractor, the other was a home inspector. Niether had very kind words at all for the pink stuff.